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No. 581,263. Patented App-21:, 18971.]

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UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HAROLD P.BROWN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,263, dated April 27, 189"r'.

Application tiled February 2, 1895. Serial No. 537,084. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, I-IABOLD P. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Connections, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical connections at the joints of rails, pipes, or other conductors underground.

IIeretofore difficulty has been experienced in maintaining a good electrical connection at the joints of rails or between an iron or steel rail or pipe and a copper wire, rod, cable, or other conductor where the joint lies on or is wholly or partially buried in the ground. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to maintain in the ordinary way a good electrical contact between an iron rail or pipe and a copper wire, rod, or cable or between iron and iron when the joint is buried underground. In spite of the best and most perfect mechanical contact at the outset moisture will find its way between the surfaces and oxidize the iron, leaving a film of iron oxid of high electrical resistance between the two metals, and iron and copper in acidulated water form a galvanic couple whose action is at the expense of the iron. On the passage of a current through joints made of two different metals they form a thermo-electric couple, and the consequent difference of temperature and expansion aids in permitting the admission of moisture, as well as in caus inga loss of energy. The contact-surfaces have been filed to an absolute lit and bolted together Lindergreat pressure, or the iron has been electroplated with tin, zinc, or'copper to resist corrosion, or lead strips have been compressed between the surfaces, or the joint has been covered with viscous paint, or bot-l1 or all of these; but in spite of all precautions water will 'eventually find its way between the surfaces, and the iron oxid will spoil the conductivity of the joint. It is especially important to obtain perfect electrical joints of low resistance in electric-railway work be` tween the ends of contiguous rails, as the rails are in most instances used as return conductors. Here, in addition to the presence of water as a factor of disintegration, we have the movement of the rails themselves as the cars pass over them to gradually wear out the connection. nection means a definite loss of motive power in overcoming the resistance of the bad joint, and in large railway systems hundreds of horse-power are vthus thrown away every day. So well is this recognized that in some places attempts have been made to electrically weld the rails at very great expense. Again, it is important to have some method of making a permanent electrical connection upon gasand water pipes in order to protect-them from the corrosion due to electrolytic action of the current when. leaving the pipes and passing through the ground to the rails or some other conductor in order to complete the circuit. To overcome these defects and obtain a perfect and permanent electrical joint, I have invented an electrical connection comprising a cup-shaped or hollowed terminal and means for bolting it rmly to the rail, in combination with a plastic alloy of great conductivity embraced between the hollowed terminal and the rail or pipe or other conductor.

The interiorof the hollowed ,portion is preferably iirst treated with some solution or chemical, as a bath of soda, to remove oil. It is then rubbed with an easily-decomposed alloj7 of mercury, which will amalgamate the su rface and pci-manen tly protect it from rust, as mercury will penetrate some distance into the metal and resist any tendency to oxidize.

, The surface. of the rail or pipe where the joint is to be applied is treated in the same manner. The hollowed portion is then filled with a soft alloy of the con sistencyof putty, which can be made to gradually harden and at the same time expand. The joint is then made by bolting, clamping, or rive-ting, and as the alloy hardens and expands it puts the joint under tremendous pressure, permanently excluding water and making as good an electrical contact as though the rail or pipe were continuous. I prefer to use for this soft alloy some permanent amalgam or other suitable metal, whose combination I reserve for the subject of a future patent application, as such an amalgam by proper pro'portioning and by electrical treatment can be made to expand a predetermined amount in hardening, to make a molecular contact upon either copper,

A broken or poor con- IOO steel, or iron,and to resist water, acids, or such alkalies as are liable to be encountered in the soil under the streets. This metal is made to give the same thermo-electric eifect as steel or iron, so as to avoid a loss from this source.

My invention consists in the combination with two jointed conductors-such, for example, as a rail and a fish-plate, a rail and a bond wire or rod, a rail or pipe, and a wire, rod, or cablefurnished with a hollowed or open space or receptacle between them, and means for clamping or binding the two iirmly together-such, for example, as a threaded bolt and nut, a wedge, ora rivet-and a plastic metallic alloy-such, for example, as an amalgam of mercury with a suitable metal or metals-filling the space or receptacle between the conductors.

It also consists, as a further improvement or perfection of the invention, in forming the receptacle for the plastic metallic alloy in part of an elastic, compressible, waterproof, non-oxidizable ring or gasket adapted to adhere to the surfaces of the conductors between which it is compressed-such, for example, as a ring of cork boiled in or impregnated and coated with petroleum-tar, or the tailings or residue of petroleum distillation, or other gummy inoxidizable substance--and in adding to the plastic metallic alloy a small quantity of free mercury, so that the plastic alloy will not harden, but remain permanently soft, thus prevent-ing all possibility of its be ing cracked, broken, or injured by the hammering or shocks of passing` cars or other external strains to which the conductors may be subjected.

It also consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown and described, and specied in the claims.

In the accompanying` drawings, forming` a part of this specification, Figure l. is a vertical sectional View of one simple form of electrical connection embodying my invention, the same showing the connection as applied to the joint between the bond wire or rod and one end of two abutting street-car rails; and Fig. 2 isadetail View of the bond-wire. Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional view illustrating one form of application of the invention to the j oint between the rail and iish -plate, and Fig. 4t is a face view of a spiral which in part forms the receptacle for the plastic alloy in this form or means of reducingthe invention to practice. Fig. 5 represents another modified form of the receptacle for the plastic alloy. Figs. 6 and 7 represent still another modified form of this receptacle. Fig. 8 is a plan view and Fig. 9 a vertical section illustrating my electrical connection as applied to the joint between an underground pipe and a copper or other conductor wire or rod. Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional View illustrating the improved or perfected form of my invention in which the wall of the receptacle is in part formed of an elastic colnpressible ring, gasket, or wall and wherein the plastic alloy contains free mercury'to preserve it in a soft plastic non-frangible state, and Fig. ll. is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. lO. Fig. l2 is a view similar to Fig. l0, but showing the elastic ring compressed. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail sectional `view to indicate the film of easily-decom posed alloy of mercury which rapidly forms a permanent amalgam on the surface of the metal upon which it is applied.

In all the figures of the drawings corresponding parts are indicated by like letters of reference.Y

In the drawings, A and Il represent two conductors which are joined together or between which an electrical connection is to be formed, be the same rail, fish-plate, wire, rod, or other conductor; C, the receptacle or open space between the conductors A B to receive the plastic alloy; D, the means for binding the two conductors together, preferably a threaded bolt; E, the nut for the bolt; F, the plastic alloy; a l), the surfaces of the conductors with which the plastic alloy comes in contact, these surfaces forming in part the walls of the receptacle C, and G a supplemental device in a separate piece from either of the conductors A B, forming in part a retaining wall for the receptacle C. N represents the iilm of decomposable alloy of mcrcury with which the surfaces d b of the conductors A B are rubbed and by which such surfaces are amalgamated.

In Figs. l and 2 the conductor A is a streetcar rail and the conductor B a bond connecting two abutting rails. The bond B is furnished with ali-enlarged end h', hollowed to form the receptacle C for the plastic alloy F, which is placed between the rail A and the bond B.

I-I is an iron washer to evenly distribute the pressure produced by the tightening of the nut E upon the bolt D; or the bolt may be made with `a head the size of the washer Il, if preferred. As pressure is applied to the bolt D the thin edges of the inner face of thehollow disk b' are or can be somewhat flattened, thereby forcing some of the soft alloy into the hole in the rail through which the bolt D passes, thus increasing the area oi' contact with the surface of the rail and sealing it against the admission of moisture. This thin lm of the alloy will be the first portion to harden, so that' the expansion of the remain der of the alloy can be exerted only in forcing itself into the irregularities of the surfaces of the rail and of the bond, putting a tremendous pressure upon the same. This pressure not only serves to reduce the electrical resistance of the joint, but enables it to resist the loosening effect produced by the hammering of passing car-wheels.

In some cases it is possible to use tish-plates IIO or chairs at the rail-joints for conductors instead of a conducting-bond, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a fish-plate is represented as constituting one of the conductors B, the other being the rail A. In this case if both the rail and fish-plate are left With their ordinary fiat or plain surfaces it Will be necessary to provide some supplemental Wall or device G for the receptacle C of the plastic alloy F in addition to the surfaces a b of the conductors, in order to hold the soft alloy in place until ithardens. One method of doing this is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, Where the retaining Wall or device G consists of a spiral Wire or narrow strip of sheet metal ou edge placed between the fish-plate and rail as a washer surrounding the bolt D. The receptacle C is thus made of av spiral form. The spiral device G has a central hole g for the bolt D; or in place of a spiral coil of Wire or other material the retaining device or Wall G may consist of a disk or other shaped piece of open-mesh Wire-cloth, and this used as a means of holding the soft alloy in place, as shown in Fig. 5. In this case the open spaces or meshes of the Wire constitute the receptacle C for the plastic alloy, and the bolt D passes through the hole g.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the retaining device G may be formed of a piece of sheet metal punched full ofsmall holes to receive the plastic alloy, the edges of such perforated sheet being bent first up and then down, as illustrated in Fig. 7, so as to hold some of the plastic alloy on each side of the perforated plate G.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the conductor A is shown in the form of a gas or Waterpipe, and the conductor B in the form of an ordinary Wire, cable, or rod. In this formtheboltDis made U-shaped to surround the conductor-pipe A, and the supplemental retaining Wall or device G, Which completes the Wall of the receptacle C for the plastic alloy F, is in the form of a saddle or clamp, by which, in connection with the bolt D, the conductors A and B are clamped together. In this construction the receptacle C is formed by making a recess in the face of the device G, Which fits against the periphery of the pipe A; and the device G is provided With a slot or groove g to receive the conductor B, so that its surface b Will come in contact with the plastic alloy F as Well as in contact with the surface a of the pipe or conductor A.

Figs. IO and ll show a still better or more improved method of making an electrical contact between rails and fish-plates uniting them'. On roads Where the trafc is heavy and the current transmitted is large I use a similar plastic alloy, but add to it a small portion of free mercury. This, if prevented from escaping, will cause the alloy to remain soft permanently, so that it can never be injured by the hammering of passing car- Wheels or by the expansion and contraction of the rails. seal against leakage of the free mercury or loss by evaporation even though the bolts holding the fish-plate may slacken or the fishplate loosen by Wearing a little on the edge bearing against the rail, I provide an elastic receptacle, preferably made of cork, Which is boiled in petroleum-tar or the tailings or residue of petroleum distillation or other gurnmy inoxidizable substance.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the conductor A is shown in the form of a street-car rail, and the conductor B in the form of a fish-plate, and the supplemental device or retaining-Wall G of the receptacle C in thepreferred form of an elastic Waterproof non-oxidizable ring or gasket, and the soft alloy F as containing an addition of free mercury to maintain it always in a soft or plastic condition. The elastic ring or gasket G is preferably made of cork, as before described, and coated with the gummycompoundMbeforementioned. The receptacle C is preferably conical in form. The plastic alloy F is placed in the receptacle C after causing the ring G to adhere to the rail by slightly heating its gum my coating M.

K is a spiral Washer of spring-steel, \vhich prevents too great compression of the receptacle O, and Whatever the distance between rail and fish-plate always keeps one of its ends on each.

In this (Figs. lO and l1) form of my invention in service for use upon a girder-rail weighing ninety pounds to the yard, for eX- ample, the retaining device G should preferably be four inches outside diameter and five-eighths of an inch thick, covered with a coating M one-sixteenth of an inch thick. The receptacle C is one and seven-sixteenths inches in diameter on the side toward the fish-plate and one and nine-sixteenths inches in diameter on the other side. The cubical space occupied by the spring-Washer K and plastic alloy F in the receptacle C before the elastic receptacle is compressed amounts to about eighty per cent. of the cubical space of the receptacle C. The spring-Washer K, When not under compression, occupies threequarters of an inch space from end to end. lVhen compressed, it assumes the shape of a flat ring ve-sixteenths of an inch thick. The space occupied by the Washer and the alloy is so proportioned to the total space in the receptacle C before compression that after the entire receptacle has been compressed to five-sixteenths of an inch, which is the limit imposed by the thickness of the Washer F, there is still ample space for the metal, the shrinkage of the size of the hole being compensated by the compression of the air-space. This is an important factor, since if no airspace Were left before compression the receptacle might'be split open by its metal contents When pressure was applied. The heavy pressure applied by tightening the fish-plate bolts causes the compound M to adhere firmly In order to provide an effectual IOO IOS

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-to the metal, so that if the pressure is subsequently removed and the fish-plate loosened the elastic receptacle will resume its former dimensions and keep the receptacle C hermetically closed. The plastic alloy F will settle to its new length and still maintain a perfect electrical connection between the rail and the fislrplate. This redistribution of the alloy is assisted by the expansion of the spring-washer K. So tenacious is the compound M when petroleum-tailings are used for the same that the cork will pull apart before it will leave the metal surfaces. In order to prepare the surface M for shipment, it is covered with powdered talc. When ready to apply to the rail, the surface M on the side upon which is the larger opening of the receptacle C is heated by laying it on a warm metal surface. It is then placed against the rail at the proper point near the end where the surface has been sandpapered and rubbed with the decomposable mercury alloy. Alittle box containing the plastic alloy and the spring-washer K is emptied into the receptacle C, which is made tapering, so as to provide a pocket for the free mercury in the alloy. Another retaining device or ring Gis similarly placed upon the adjoining rail and the corresponding surfaces of the fish-plate rubbed Wi tli sandpaper and the decomposable alloy N. The fish-plate is then put into position and the bolts tightened. The plastic alloy and the spring-Washers K in each receptacle C then form a conductingpath from the end of one rail to the fish-plate and from the fish-plate to the next rail.

To give a practical idea of this new method of making contact, the following tests were made: A sample joint was made up between two lengths of girder-rail weighing ninety pounds to the yard and having a cross-section of nine square inches. The rail was six inches wide on the base and nine inches high. The web between base and tread was threeeighths inches thick and six inches high. The fislrplates were twentyeight inches long, six inches high, and three-fourths of an inch thick, held in place by four three-quarterinch bolts through each rail. A bond of pure copper iive-eighths of an inch in diameter and thirty-two inches long was fastened to each rail just beyond the end of the fish-plate and tightly secured by bolts flve-cighths of an inch in diameter. The copper was' given a contact area against each rail of ten times its crosssection and both steel and copper surfaces in contact machined to a perfect fit. When a current of one hundred amperes was passed through the joint, a loss of one-thirtieth of a volt was shown. With twelve hundred amperes the loss was seven-thirtieths of a volt. This is about three times the loss due to the measured resistance of the copper. Twothirds of the loss therefore seem to be due to the thermo-electric effect of dissimilar metals in contact with each other. 'With amalgamated surfaces and the plastic alloy between steel and copper the loss was four-thirtieths at twelve hundred amperes. The copper was then removed and the elastic receptacles of above size put into place, each holding two and one-half ounces of the plastic alloy and a spring-washer one and one-fourth inches outside diameter. The fish-plate bolts were tightened until the receptacles and their contents had been compressed to five-sixteenths of an inch in width. This is the distance ordinarily left between the rail and the middle of the iish-plate. A current of fifteen hundred amperes was then passed through the joint and a loss of but one-thirticth of a volt was shown. The fish-plate was left in place for several weeks, when the nuts were removed from the bolts holding it in place. The sh-plate slacked off one-fourth of an inch from its former position, but on again passing fifteen hundred amperes through the joint only one-thirtieth of a volt loss was encountered, as before.

As the compound M will not oxidize, crack, or melt and as the cork so treated is practically indestructible, this type of joint will ontlast any solid-metal joint. It will also be noticed that the plastic alloy is perfectly protected against decomposition by electrolysis, as it is entirely insulated by the cork rcceptacle.

The walls of the receptacle C for the plastic alloy F or a portion thereof, whether the saine be made in the form of the hollowed disk b on one of the conductors itself or made in a separate piece, as represented in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, or as represented by the petroleumtar-coated cork ring or gasket G, (shown in Fig. 10,) are somewhat compressible, so that when the conductors A B are clamped together by the bolts D or other clamping means the plastic alloy F is put under pressure, and this pressure is still further increased by the expanding of the alloy as it hardens, in cases Where it is so proportioned or compounded as to permit of hardening.

Vhile I have herein specifically shown and described a few different modifications, constructions, or forms suitable for embodying my invention and reducing it to practice, in order to more fully and clearly explain its nature, it will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention may be embodied and reduced to practice in a great variety of forms or constructions other than those specifically shown and described herein and that my invention is not confined to the few specific forms or constructions shown in the drawings. I desire, however, to include herein, in addition to the claims embracing or covering my invention in its entirety or broadly in all the different forms, constructions, or modifications in which it may be embodied, also claims for one of the specific forms herein shown and described-Viz., that indicated in Figs. l0 and ll-as that I consider to be the IOO IIO

best form now known to me for practicing my invention.

I claim,-

1. An electrical connection consisting in the combination with two conductors jointed together and furnished with a hollowed or confined space or receptacle between them, means for clamping or binding the two conductors firmly together, and a plastic alloy or amalgam confined in the space or receptacle between the conductors and forming an electrical connection between the cond uctors,substantially as specified.

2. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors, of a permanently plastic alloy electrically connecting the two, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors, of a permanently plastic alloy under pressure electrically connectiu g the two, substantially as specified.

et. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a hollow space or receptacle between them, of a plastic alloy confined in such space or receptacle, substantially as specified. j

5. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors'f'urnished with a hollow space or receptacle between them, of a plastic alloy confined in such space or receptacle, and means for clamping or binding the two conduct-ors together, substantially as specified.

G. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a confined space or receptacle between them, means for clamping or binding the conductors together, and an alloy compressed and confined in said space or receptacle while in a plastic condition, substantially'as specified.

7. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a confined space or receptacle between them, means for clamping or binding the conductors together, and a mercury alloy compressed and confined in said space or receptacle while in a plasticl condition, substantially as specified.

S. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors, of a permanently plastic alloy electrically connecting the two, the su rfaces of said conductors in contact with said alloy being amalgamated, orrubbed or impregnated with a decomposable alloy of mercury, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a confined space or receptacle between them, means for clamping or bindingthe conductors together, and a mercury alloy compressed and confined in said space or receptacle whilein a plastic condition, the surface of said conductors in contact with said alloy being amalgamated, substantially as specified.

10. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a hollow space or receptacle between them, of aplastic alloy in such space orreceptacle, and means for clamping or binding the two conductors together, a portion of the wall of said space or receptacle being compressible, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a confined space or receptacle between them, means for clamping or binding the conductors together, and an alloy compressed in said space or receptacle while in a plastic condition, the retaining device or wall of said space or receptacle being compressed between said conductors by said means for clamping or binding the conductors together, substantially as specified.

12. The combination with two meeting or -jointed conductors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part by a supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle, substantially as specified.

13. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with ahollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part by a supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductors, means for clamping said supplemental retaining l device between the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle, substantially as specified.

14. The combination with two meeting or join ted conductors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part by a supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductors, means for clamping said supplemental retaining device between the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle, said supplemental retaining device being of elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable, waterproof material, substantially as specified.

15. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part by a supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductors, means for clamping said supplemental retaining device between the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle said supplemental retaining device being of elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable, waterproof material, coated or impregnated with a gummy or adhesive material, substantially as specified.

16. The combina-tion with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in pa rt by a supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductors, means for clamping said supplemental retaining device between the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle, said supplemental retaining device being of elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable, waterproof material, coated or impregnated with a gummy or adhesive material, and the surface 'of said conductors with which the plastic alloy comes IOO IOS

in contact being amalgamated or coated with a film of decomposable mercury alloy, substantially as specified.

17. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part bya supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductor, means for clamping said supplemental retaining device between the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle, said supplemental retaining device being of elastic, compressiblc, non-oxidizablc, waterproof material, such plastic alloy containing a propor tion of free mercury to keep it in a plastic condition, substantially as specified.

1S. The combination with two meeting or` jointed conductors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part by a supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductor, means for clamping said supplemental retaining device between the conductors, and a plastic alloyin said space or receptacle, said supplemental retaining device being oi' elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable, waterproof material, coated or impregnated with a gummyor adhesive material, said plastic alloy containing a proportion of free mercury to keep it in a plastic condition, substantially as specified.

19. The combination with two meeting or jointed cond uctors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part by a supplemental retaining device Gin a separate piece from the conductor, means for clamping said supplemental retaining device between the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle, said supplemental retaining device being of elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable, waterproof matcrial, and the surface of said conductors with which the plastic alloy comes in contact being amalgamated or coated with a iilm of decomposable mercury alloy,I said plastic alloy containing a proportion of free mercury to keep it in a plastic condition, [substantially as specilied.

20. The combination with two meeting or jointed cond uetors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part by a supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductor, means for clamping said supplemental retaining device between the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle, said supplemental retaining device being of elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable, waterproof material, and a spring inserted in said receptacle, substantially as specified.

2l. The combination with two meeting or jointed conductors furnished with a hollowed space or receptacle between them formed in part by a supplemental retaining device G in a separate piece from the conductor, means for clamping said supplemental retaining device between the conductors, and a plastic alloy in said space or receptacle, said supplemental retaining device being ot' elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable, waterproof material coated or impregnated with a gummy or adhesive material, and a spring inserted in said receptacle, substantially as specified.

22. The combination with two conductors, of a cork ring or gasket G inserted between said conductors and forming therewith a receptacle C, a plastic alloy F in said receptacle C, and means for clamping the two conductors together and compressing the cork ring, substantially as specified.

23. The combination with two conductors, of a cork ring or gasket G inserted between said conductors and forming therewith a receptacle C, a plastic alloy F in said receptacle C, and means for clamping the two conductors together and compressing the cork ring, said cork ring being coated or impregnated with a gummy compound M, substantially as specified.

2i. The combination with two conductors, of a cork ring or gasket G inserted between said conductors and forming therewith a receptacle C, a plastic alloy F in said receptacle C, and means for clamping the two c onductors together and compressing the cork ring, and a spring K in said receptacle C, substantially as specified.

25. The combination with two conductors, of a cork ring or gasket G inserted between said conductors and forming therewith a receptacle C, a plastic alloy F in said receptacle C, and means for clamping the two conductors together and compressing the cork ring, said plastic alloy containing a proportion of free mercury, substantially as speciiied.

26. The combination with two conductors, of a cork ring or gasket G inserted between said conductors and forming therewith a receptacle C, a plastic alloy F in said receptacle C, and means for clamping the two conductors together and compressing the cork ring, said cork ring being coated or impregnated with a gumm y compound M, said plastic alloy containing a proportion of free mercury, substantially as specified.

27. rlhe combination with two conductors, of a cork ring or gasket G inserted between said conductors and forming therewith a receptacle C, a plastic alloy F in said receptacle C, and means for clamping the two conductors together and compressing the cork ring,'

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the surfaces a h of said conductors in contact with said alloy being amalgamated, substantially as specified.

29. The combination with two conductors, of a cork ring or gasket G inserted between said conductors and forming therewith a receptacle C, a plastic alloy F in said receptacle C, and means for clamping the two conductors together and compressing the cork ring, said cork ring being coated or impregnated with a gummy compound M, said plastic alloy containing a proportion of free mercury, and a spring K in said receptacle C, the surfaces a h of said conductors in contact with said alloy being amalgamated,substantially as speciiied.

30. The combination with a rail conductor A of a fish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped and confined and compressed between said rail and fish-plate while in a plastic condition, substantially as specified.

3l. The combination with a rail conductor A, of a iish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and iishplate while in a plastic condition, and a supplemental retaining device between the rail and .fish-plate for the plastic alloy, substantially as specified.

32. The combination with a railconductor A, of a fish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and ish plate while in a plastic condition, and a supplemental elastic, compressible, non-oXidizable retaining device between the rail and fishplate for the plastic alloy, substantially as specified.

33. The combination with a rail conductor A of a fish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and iish -plate while in a plastic condition, a supplemental elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable retaining device between the rail and fish-plate for the plastic alloy composed of cork, substantially as specified.

34. The combination with a rail-cond uctor A of a sh-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and iish-plate while in a plastic condition, a supplemental elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable retaining,` device between the rail and fish-plate for the plastic alloy composed of cork coated orimpregnated with a gummy compound, substantially as specified.

35. The combination with a rail conductor A of a fish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and fish-plate while in a plastic condition, a supplemental elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable retaining device between the rail and fish-plate for the plastic alloy, composed of cork coated or impregnated with a gummy compound, and a spring K in said receptacle, substantially as specified.

36. The combination with a rail conductor A of a fish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and sh-plate while in a plastic condition, a supplemental elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable retaining device between the rail and iish-plate for the plastic alloy, said plastic alloy F containing a proportion of free mercury, substantially as specified.

37. The combination with a rail conductor A of a fish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and fish-plate while in a plastic condition, a supplemental, elastic, compressible, n on-oxidizable retaining device between the rail and fish-plate for the plastic alloy,composed of cork coated or impregnated with a gummy compound, said plastic alloy F containing a proportion of free mercury, substantially as specified.

3S. The combination with a rail conductor A of aiish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and sh-plate While in aplastic condition, a supplemental, elastic, compressible, non-oxidizable retaining device between the rail and fish-plate for the plastic alloy, composed of cork coated or impregnated with a gummy compound, and a spring K in said receptable, said plastic alloy Fl containing a proportion of free mercury, substantially as specified.

39. The combination with a rail conductor A of a iish-plate conductor B, clamping-bolt D, and an alloy F of mercury inserted and clamped between said rail and fish-plate while in a plastic condition, a supplemental, elastic, com pressible, non-oxidizable retaining device between the rail and tish-plate for the plastic alloy,com posed of cork coated or impregnated with a gummy compound, and a spring K in said receptacle, said plastic alloy F containing a proportion of free mercury, the surfaces a b of the rail and iish-plate in contact with the alloy being amalgamated, substantially as specified.

HAROLD P. BROVN.v

Witnesses C. R. WATERBURY, JAMES `A. VAN WAGENEN.

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